Happy Update! When to have the VBAC talk with doc?

[crystal_buffaloe]

I'm wondering when the best time to have the VBAC discussion with my doctor would be (DD, DH, and I all see the same family practicioner).

My DD is 3 months, and we go for well-baby visits. Would it be out of line to bring it up at a scheduled well-baby?

I stopped taking my birth control and switched to NFP to avoid about 6 months before I wanted to start trying the first time around. I'd prefer to do that again with the second, and so I'd like to find out what her policy/comfort zone is for spacing with regard to VBAC.

It's complicated -- if I'd had a normal vaginal birth, I'd stop taking BC around 9 months, do NFP for 6 months, and then hope to conceive after that. So 2 years apart would be ideal, but if the charting to avoid didn't work out, 18 months apart would be okay, too. However, if she has a strict 24 month between births policy, I'd feel compelled to stay on BC the whole time.

Is there an easy way to bring this up? Do we need to sit down and have "the talk" or could I just ask how far apart she wants births to be for VBAC and leave it at that? Saving a serious discussion about it for when I actually stop birth control or if I actually get pregnant?

It doesn't seem to fit with the laid-backness of a family practice doctor to schedule a whole appointment for this, but I also don't want to completely derail the 4 or 6 month well-baby visit either. I guess how quickly/easily she answers the question might tell me a lot about if I want to stay in her care for the next pregnancy, too.

UPDATE: So, we had our 4-month well baby yesterday, and my doctor said she likes to see the births at least 18 months apart for VBAC. It was no big deal, and she just assumed that is what I wanted to do.

[womenswisdom]

I would ask as soon as possible. If you bring it up at a baby visit, she might want you to come back to discuss it if it's too in-depth for that time slot, but it might be really simple. I'd just want to know to get it off my mind, but that's how I am.

[AustinMom]

Especially if you don't have anything exciting going on with the well baby visit, I'd SO bring it up as soon as possible. This is how I would ask her...."I know the NIH says that 18 months between births for VBAC is ideal and there are plenty of studies that show 12 months is okay as well, what are your thoughts and policies?" This way, she can't really say 24 months is her policy because I doubt any good Dr. would go against a major health org, especially when the consumer (you) knows the right recommendations. You really want to go in, confident, but not arrogant as 'this is what I plan on doing'. KNWIM?

I would have the talk as soon as possible, and I'd arm yourself with a bunch of info, not to be combative, but to know what you know, and have her opinion as a consult and not a end all, or begin all for that matter.

Just my two cents

[roadfamily6now]

agreed. Go ahead and ask the question. You will know right away how this provider feels about VBAC.

[MNHall]

I agree too...go ahead and just ask the simple question about your provider's feelings on spacing. That should be a fairly short and easy question and answer. And, you can also get a feel based on that answer on how supportive s/he is and see if you need to talk more, find someone else, or so on. If it's one of those, "well......we'll have to see what happens, when you actually get pregnant, when you would go into labor, we can schedule a c/s and if you go before that then try a vbac, blah blah blah" or if it's a "oh yes, I think a VBAC is wonderful for mama, ideally I'd like to see at least 18 months, but I'll work with you because I believe in a vaginal birth"....you know, the difference between a provider that baits and switches and one that is actually pro VBAC!

It shouldn't take too much of the appointment's time away from your DD and the sooner you know the better!